36英寸。

2. ... was not as heavy as what I used to get in my old school, but it was a bit challenging for me...

1) used to do 过去常常做某事 be used to do 被用来做。。。

be/get used to doing sth./ sth. 习惯于/开始习惯于做。。。 　there used to be 某地过去有某物

There used to be a swimming pool in our town. 我们镇上过去有一个游泳池。

We use knives to cut things. 我们用小刀切东西。 I am used to traveling by air. 我习惯了乘飞机旅行。

2) a bit和a little ▲a bit和a little都可以修饰形容词或副词的原级或比较级。如：

It's a bit／a little cold today。今天有点冷。 She is driving a bit／a little faster． 她现在开得稍快了一点。

▲a little可直接加名词而a bit须加of后才能加名词。如：

a little bread：a bit of bread一点儿面包 a little wood＝a bit of wood一点儿木柴

▲not a bit意为"一点不" = not at all，而not a little意为"很"表示很多／大，属肯定意思。如:

He is not a bit surprised at the news． 他对此消息一点不吃惊。

He is not a little surprised at the news． 他对此消息非常吃惊。

3）challenge n./v. 挑战 ▲challenging adj. 挑战性的 a challenging task 一项有挑战性的任务

He challenged me to play another tennis game. 他向我挑战要我跟他再打一场网球。

The present world is full of challenges as well as opportunities. 当今社会充满了机遇与挑战。

3. ...so I could e-mail my family and friends back home for free. ▲free adj. 免费的；空闲的

a free meal.免费的一餐 ▲for free （＝ free of charge）免费的 All the students got the books for free.

4. Cooking was really fun as I learned how to buy, prepare and cook food.

▲1) fun n. [U]愉快；开心　 adj. 有趣的，奇妙的 (比较：funny adj. 好笑的，滑稽的)

▲for fun寻找乐趣；当作玩笑； ▲make fun of 捉弄

I felt unhappy whenever I was made fun of. 无论何时被人嘲笑，总让我不好受。

He spoke it for fun. 他是说着玩的。

▲2) prepare: v准备, 预备, 有能力而且愿意preparation: n. 准备, 预备 prepare for.../prepare...for...

make preparations for be prepared for为...作准备

Doing a part-time job can prepare them for a future career. 打工为大学生将来的工作作好准备。

Will you help me prepare for the meeting? 你能否帮我为这次会议做准备工作？

Have you made preparations for the speech? 你为你的演讲作好准备了吗？

【反馈练习】

Ⅰ. Useful phrases in the text.

1. 对我来说有一点挑战性________________

2.在过去一年里______________________________

3. 我最喜爱的老师______________________

4.英国文学__________________________________

5. 平均尺寸____________________________

6. 移到不同的班级___________________________

7. 在中饭时间__________________________

8. 给某人发电子邮件_________________________

9. 另外上一节法语课____________________

10. 在星期二的晚上__________________________